Concession and health cards

Purpose

The Australian Government’s main purpose in issuing concession cards is to provide access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription items, and certain Medicare services, at a cheaper rate.

Types of concession cards

There are a number of different types of concession cards that give access to discounts. Some cards and concessions are administered by the Commonwealth Government, while others are administered by state, territory and local governments and some private organisations.

The concession cards that are issued by the Commonwealth Government include:

the Pensioner Concession Card (for all pensioners and certain social security allowance recipients under specific conditions);

the Health Care Card (generally for social security allowees and low paid workers); and